{Early} Moments- In Black & White

We've looked at the series of {Early} Moments in pieces, from when a bride has her hair and makeup done to the last glance she takes in the mirror after she is ready and all of the steps in between. In our look at these beautiful moments, there was one thing each image had in common-- they were all in color.

While I adore colored photos, there is also a unquestionably classic appeal to images devoid of such a rainbow of hues; for that reason, I wanted to share one final {Early} Moments-- the entire sequence in black and white-- and the tale told is a timeless one.

Carey & John- Eric Laurits via Style Me Pretty

Lia & Mark- Carrie Patterson


Crystal & Ben- Perez Photography via Southern Weddings


Mary & Stefan- Erin Hearts Court via Once Wed

Brooke Schwab Photography

Meghan & Robb- Emily Johnston Anderson Photography via The Bride's Cafe


Kara & Matthew- Amanda of Millie Holloman Photography

Brooke Schwab Photography

Jennifer & Sal- Laura Novak Photography


Jamie & Darrin- Jennifer Skog Photography


Erica & Evan- Rebecca of Millie Holloman Photography


Megan & Brett- Rachel of Millie Holloman Photography


Katie & Brandon- Millie of Millie Holloman Photography

Hannah & Cal- Brooke Schwab Photography


Mel & Michael- Jennifer Skog Photography


Christy & Christian- Jose Villa


Wendy & Ross- Carrie Patterson


Sabrina & Kevin- Erin Hearts Court via The Brides Cafe


Candice Dowling- Robert & Kathleen Photographers via Style Me Pretty


Sarah Anne & Justin- Millie of Millie Holloman Photography

Valentine Layout and Cut File - New Custom Crops Project

My l-o-n-g holiday break (December and January) officially ended last week.  I am back to submitting projects to both design teams AND to Custom Crops.  My latest Custom Crops project, complete with cut file, is titled Valentine Love Layout.  I truly like this layout and cannot wait to use it!!! 

For complete assembly directions and the cut file, please visit my page at Custom Crops.  In addition to the directions and the cut file, I also added links to the paper used in the project.  I just love this new line of SEI paper -  Juliette!!!

PTW - Love Actually

What a day! I spent almost three hours in the dentist chair today getting prepped for a crown. Fun stuff, huh? It's time for a new challenge at Papertake Weekly. And this week, Dawny's challenge is Love Actually! I have had this card in my head for a good six months now, and finally was able to make it. This card was the reason I bought this Tilda and Edwin from Magnolia-licious! I used Giggling Tilda, which is not in stock right now, and #129 Kissing Edwin, Standing. I just wanted his head in the thought cloud so I cut it out with a circle Nestie. I also used the cannister set from A Little Yummy For Your Tummy collection. I don't see these in the store either, but if you're interested, just email Diana about them.

Please be sure and pop over to Papertake Weekly to see the fabulous cards created by the rest of the talented designers, and then grab your paper and glue and play along with us! Thanks for stopping by to see me today and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

recipe:

Images - Magnolia from Magnolia-licious

paper: Basic Grey Sugar Rush and Bazzill cardstock

ink: Memento Tuxedo black; Copic markers

Tools: Nestabilities, Bow Easy

Misc: Charm from Stamp and Create; buttons from stash; silk ribbon from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, demensional tape

Gypsy Spot Challenge - 3M Adhesive Backed Paper

Hello bloggers, happy Tuesday.  This week at the Gypsy Spot we were challenged to use 3M's Post It brand paper, which has adhesive on the back with a peel off cover.   I received three 8.5 x 11 inch sheets of the 3M paper - red, pink and white.  So of course I immediately thought VALENTINE'S project. 

I used my Gypsy and five cricut cartridges to design and cut this card:  Sweethearts, Tie the Knot, George, Graphically Speaking and Winter Woodlands.  Since so much of the nation is experiencing winter weather this Valentine's day, I chose the heart snowflake cut on Tie the Knot as a primary accent cut. The tiny red hearts in the middle of the heart snowflakes were cut from George.  I added small snowflakes from Winter Woodlands to accent the three larger snowflakes.

The layered scalloped hearts are from the Sweethearts cartridge as is the word LOVE in the middle of the top heart.  The word YOU is from Graphically Speaking.  I wanted a plain font so as to not draw attention away from the word LOVE. 

The base card was cut from Sweethearts and the rectangle on the top of the card was cut from George.  I used a new Valentine Cuttlebug embossing folder on the background rectangle to add texture.

The flower is a Prima product and can be purchased at Custom Crops. The ribbon was from my stash.  The brads are Stampin' Up brand. I hope that you and you Valentine snuggle up warmly this Valentine's Day!!

Note: The cut file has been added to the list of cut files at the right - 3M Love Valentine Card.

Troubleshooting . . .

OK...here it is, part 3 of our F.A.Q.'s. Let me stress that...these tips work for me, but they are not necessarily the "proper" fixes. I know there are a few cookie experts who read the blog, so I'm hoping they'll chime in with their tips in the comments. (You know who you are!)


My royal icing is staying "tacky" even after several hours and overnight...any ideas?

My experience is that this is due to flood icing that is thinned too much. When flooding cookies, if the icing runs quickly to fill the entire cookie with having to be spread with a toothpick, it's too thin. Pour your icing back into the bowl, sift in some powdered sugar and let sit again for several minutes.

Why is my royal icing pitted looking and still wet?

Same answer as above...it's happened to me before, too. I'm crying with you.

Help! My cookies dried overnight and now they have dark splotches all over them!

Yeah...you know how humidity is so lovely for your hair? It's just the same with cookies. Close the windows, run the A/C...do whatever you can to make your cookie drying area humidity-free. The good news is, the splotches will normally spread across the entire cookie to darken the icing to a consistent color.

See that horse cookie in the collage above? This is also known as "the day I almost divorced my husband." I kid, I kid! BUT, he did open the windows in the room where the cookies were drying, right after the sprinklers had run outside. Take my advice...have a heart-to-heart with hubby about humidity.

Why do my cookies have white splotches on them?

When stirring in water to flood the cookies, be sure to fully incorporate the water. Those white splotches are water. Also, if you are using a squeeze bottle, make sure it is completely dry before adding your flood icing. If a drop of water is in your bottle, it will come out on your cookie. If you notice a drop of water, grab a paper towel, blot it out and re-coat the area with icing. It will smooth out.

Why is my royal icing full of bubbles?

Two hints here...stir in the water for flooding gently with a rubber spatula, not a mixer. Two: once the water is incorporated, cover with a damp dish towel and let sit several minutes. Most of the bubbles will rise to the surface. Stir gently again and you're good to go. Any other stray bubbles can be popped with a toothpick or a pin.

I've tried royal frosting once and it hurt my hands so bad I swore never to do it again.

Try filling your icing bags only 1/2 full. I know it sounds strange, but it makes such a difference!

Why does my red or black icing taste terrible?

My guess is that you are using the food coloring brand sold in craft/grocery stores. While this company does a lot of things right....red and black food coloring are not those things. I strongly recommend AmeriColor Super Red and Super Black. You can find them here, in my Amazon shop, or in many online baking supply stores.

Why does my piped icing...you know...the outline...or maybe just some piping done on gingerbread men...well...why does it dry up and just fall off in little bits.

I think this is from overbeating. It's happened to me, too. Try to beat it until it's glossy and just coming to a stiff peak. Also, use the paddle attachment of your mixer. (Check the Royal Icing 102 post for more info.)

I can not write names or outline without the icing breaking.

This just takes practice...lots and lots of practice. Try getting used to your icing bag and printing on a plate or sheet of wax paper before going to your cookies. It's possible that your royal icing may be a little overbeaten. Check out the Royal Icing 102 post, too.

Why are my colors bleeding?

Well, that happens to me, too, sometimes. First, try to use AmeriColor food colorings. I had this problem a lot more when I used "the other guy's" food coloring. Second, when using a wet-on-wet technique for something like flat dots, let the base color sit for a few minutes before adding the dots. And sometimes, especially with the flat dots, it just happens. What helps me deal with it is to know that it WILL BE EATEN and there will be no evidence. People will just remember "cute cookie."

---

Please be sure to check out the previous two F.A.Q. installments...

1. F.A.Q.'s
2. Royal Icing 102, or 201, or whatever comes after 101

...I'll be updating these posts periodically with your questions.

{This post is also being linked to Works For Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family.}

Warm Winter Salad with Roasted Banana Squash and New Potatoes

Roasted fingerling and tiny new potatoes 
and winter squash on baby salad greens.

After a long and restless night I am pondering potato salad and glitter. Sleep deprivation may be unpleasant but it often breaks loose the inertia of stalled imagination (who among us has the power of will to maintain the status quo of the literal, linear world after a scant teaspoon of sleep?). In my experience it is not prudent to ignore gifts of imagination and whimsy. If one begins associating fingerling potatoes and burlesque I say, go for it. You never know when such a spinning sparkling muse will visit again. 

Which is why I am sipping coffee and entertaining lurid flashbacks of the Vegas show that was the 2010 Grammy Awards.

Continue reading

♥ Awesome INDIE Market in Thailand ♥

sooo you guys know how I ♥ Thailand. lol
and I have the privilege on having a Thai BF so I get to go to a lot of places. :)
I went to the South, which would be the Beach part of Thailand.
places like Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, etc.
The Centre part of Thailand where would be BANGKOK! lol.... the modern city of dream~~
and this time I went to the North part of Thailand, which would be the Mountains area and surprisingly, the cool hang out for the teenagers since a lot of them likes to take pictures of the nature & where they have the cool handmade market, which I would simply call 'INDIE'! it's very cool~

I don't remember what's the market called but it's in Pai city.

let's see the pictures do the stories..

(hney's enjoying live jazz music randomly inside the market)

 

(the jazz singer was awesome, i like her style & her afro hair. looks so indie~)

(having a good time, babe? lol)

 

(don't be shy~ hahaa)

 

(a Foreigner 'ngamen' with his unique instrument on the street)

(thai kids doing their thing)

(a cartoonist painter will paint for about Rp.30.000,-)

(I'm having onee.. yayy!!)

(a VW coffee shop, how cool is that?!)

 

(posing now^^)

 

(helloo~)

  

(more VW coffee shop) 

(some souvenirs)

(more souvenirs)

 

(even moree souvenirs^^)

 

(old-skool toys, candies, & snacks!! seriouslyy some of these stuff are very rare nowadays!)

(i was kinda into it :] )

 

(Hney was checking the store out~)

( a random cool shop)

 

(handmade toys made out of banana leaves. idk how do they do it?) 

  

(random cool store a bit outside of the market)

 

(the street)

 

(background of the market)

(resting)

 

(hee)

 

(aww your tired too, hney?)

(I think you're just being narcissistic)

 

(I forgot what was this)

  

(like me pants? it's North style lol)

(snacks while shopping, it's quite similar like Indonesian sweet martabak, I ordered the choco-banana)

to be continue..

love.love ♥♥